Julius Randle, the Los Angeles Lakers top pick in the 2014 edition of the NBA Rookie Draft, will practically make a fresh start after a disastrous first game last year.
It will be recalled that Randle was hardly seen last year after breaking his foot in the Lakers' season opening match against the Houston Rockets on October 28, 2014. Randle broke his right tibia and went on to miss the whole 2014-15 season.
But now, Randle is back in harness and will get another crack at showing the Lakers and NBA fans what he brings. For those who followed the NBA Summer games, Randle wasn't exactly spectacular though all that will hopefully change when the NBA opens shop this October.
Known to play power forward, some are wondering how the Lakers would utilize Randle. With word that Kobe Bryant could be playing some power forward, Randle could become an odd man out.
Of course this could only be experimental and head coach Byron Scott could tweak the rotation. If not, Randle could be playing some time at center which means that the Lakers may be doing a lot of hustling and running.
If the Lakers are intent on transforming themselves into a running team, then all these speculations make sense. But for Randle, he may have to do more than conditioning himself for the long grind and that involves shooting.
Randle does have a jump shot but he is no three-point shooter. During his Kentucky days, Randle was only 16% from beyond the arc which means that Randle may have to put in some additional work as far as his shooting is concerned.
At 6-foot-9 and being a power forward, Randle will need that outside artillery especially when he goes up against bigger power forward of other clubs. Should he succeed in polishing that, Randle could be an asset the Lakers can use to their advantage.
Whether it be at power forward, small forward or even center is up in the air for the former Kentucky Wildcat but all that should be ironed out by the time the 2015-16 NBA season opens this October.
